McAuliffe Statement on the Nomination of Bob McDonnell

Gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe this morning released the following statement on the official nomination of Bob McDonnell as the Republican candidate for governor:

"I want to congratulate Bob McDonnell on formally becoming the Republican nominee today. If I have the honor of becoming the Democratic nominee, I look forward to talking about the differences in our records - I am the only candidate for governor with experience creating thousands of jobs, the only one who hasn't been mired in the partisan bickering in Richmond, and the only one who will bring the same executive style leadership that Governors Warner and Kaine brought to the office.

"I'm proud of my experience and my record, but this weekend, Bob McDonnell, surrounded by Mitt Romney, Sean Hannity, and other Republicans has tried to reinvent his. They've all tried to hide his long divisive ideological record, and portray him as someone who now is a moderate.

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McAuliffe slams GOP candidate on jobs

Richmond Times Dispatch
May 12, 2009
By Jeff E. Schapiro

Pitching for the youth vote with will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas fame, Democrat Terry McAuliffe is unloading some boom, boom, pow on his would-be Republican opponent for governor.

While campaigning yesterday with the hip-hop star whose group's latest tune, "Boom, Boom, Pow," is No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, McAuliffe attacked former Attorney General Bob McDonnell for defending House of Delegates Republicans' vote to block $125 million in federal funds for expanded jobless benefits.

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McAuliffe Signs VA Dems Petition Protesting McDonnell's Opposition to Extending Unemployment Benefits

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe signed the Virginia Democratic Party's grassroots petition to protest Bob McDonnell and Virginia Republicans for rejecting $125 million in federal economic recovery funds to extend unemployment benefits. McAuliffe released the following statement:

"Bob McDonnell's opposition to accepting $125 million to extend unemployment benefits is a slap in the face to the thousands of Virginia families struggling under the current economic crisis. With unemployment reaching over 20% in communities like Martinsville, it is unconscionable that McDonnell would turn a cold shoulder to Virginia's unemployed workers.

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McAuliffe Condemns McDonnell's Rejection of $125 Million to Alleviate High Unemployment

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe released the following statement on the decision of Virginia Republicans and Bob McDonnell to reject $125 million in federal economic recovery funds for extended unemployment benefits:

"Yesterday, Virginia Republicans, led by Bob McDonnell, turned their backs on Virginia families and communities facing record unemployment rates and unprecedented economic challenges. At a time when we should be working across party lines to get our economy back on track, McDonnell has shown once again that he is more interested in political games and heated partisan rhetoric than working to find bipartisan solutions. "Not only will this decision to reject $125 million in federal economic recovery money hurt our families, but it will also discourage responsible behavior among unemployed workers, like looking for part-time work and enrolling in job training programs. We should be doing everything in our power to encourage unemployed Virginians to take these steps.

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McAuliffe Condemns Voter Suppression Remarks from McDonnell Surrogate Mike Huckabee

Today, on a conference call with reporters, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe criticized Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell surrogate Mike Huckabee's remarks encouraging voter suppression.

At a recent campaign event, Huckabee was caught on tape making the following statement: "You have two jobs. One, get all those people who are going to vote for Bob out to the polls and vote. If they're not going to vote for Bob, you have another job. Let the air out of their tires and do not let them out of their driveway on Election Day. Keep 'em home. Do the Lord's work, my friend. I'm giving you an opportunity…yes, do the right thing." Video of Huckabee's remarks can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDMMGw_S9eo.

McAuliffe released the following statement: "When I became the Chair of the Democratic National Committee, the very first thing I announced was the formation of the Voting Rights Institute. Every year, we have seen attempts at voter suppression all across the country. Let's be clear: there are no jokes to be made about denying people the right to vote in this country. It's not a laughing matter. This is a right that people fought and died for, so as public figures, we must be sure that we are setting the standard.

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Candidate of No

It seems like every time we get a chance to put aside partisanship and get things done, Bob McDonnell chooses ideology over what's best for the Commonwealth.

Maybe that's why I heard Republicans are going to throw the kitchen sink into Virginia to help his campaign. Sure enough, Bob's planning to bring in people like Sean Hannity, John McCain and Sarah Palin in order to fuel it.

That's fine. While they focus on the kitchen sink, I'm focusing on your kitchen table and the issues you talk about every single night as you sit around it - your job, your home, your roads, and your schools.

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Candidate of No

It seems like every time we get a chance to put aside partisanship and get things done, Bob McDonnell chooses ideology over what's best for the Commonwealth.

Maybe that's why I heard Republicans are going to throw the kitchen sink into Virginia to help his campaign. Sure enough, Bob's planning to bring in people like Sean Hannity, John McCain and Sarah Palin in order to fuel it.

That's fine. While they focus on the kitchen sink, I'm focusing on your kitchen table and the issues you talk about every single night as you sit around it - your job, your home, your roads, and your schools.

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McDonnell, McAuliffe Square Off in Fairfax Race

Washington Post
Tim Craig
January 28, 2009

The first battle of the 2009 general election campaign for governor will take place next week when voters in Fairfax County go to the polls to elect a new board chairman.

Emboldened by the near victory of a GOP House candidate in heavily Democratic Alexandria earlier this month, Virginia Republicans are hoping Fairfax Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) can defeat his Democratic opponent, Supervisor Sharon S. Bulova (Braddock), in the chairman’s race.

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